Chapter 3

As a girl, Angela had been taught first to be a lady. That meant she learned the rules of behavior when in public and when to impress potential mothers in law. Then she met her father and learned a whole new set of rules of behavior. They were the rules of how to behave in public yes but they included rules of what to do when you were backed into a corner and forced into a fight.

Angela could remember her first actual fight and it was not one of those training sessions she had been put through since she went through the change. And it wasn't one of those scuffles in the mud she had when she was a little girl. It was a full on fight and one that could have resulted in great bodily harm or even death had she been completely human. And it was the time she realized that she actually liked to fight.

Throughout her years of living, Angela came to respect life and did what she could to preserve it. But it always seemed to drown out when she got into a fight and even more so when she was fighting for what mattered the most to her. Then it turned into something that terrified even the allies that she had worked with throughout the years. Well most of the people she once called friends. With Sam and Dean around, she got into more scrapes than she used to and the liking for it returned.

Looking around the tavern, Angela glanced at the downed bodies all groaning from the pain she had dealt them. Her expression was bland but she felt the stirrings within, her liking for a fight. But she also felt anger. It was anger towards everything in the universe that decided it had to do bad things to good people and to the very people she dared to love. And it made her want to go destructive on everything, particularly the cause and she would do it and with everything she had meaning her abilities. It was those rare times that she exhibited those abilities that created the legends and stories about her. It was what made Azazel and Crowley swoon over her and a bunch of other creatures be attracted to her.

Looking up from her fight, she saw Tsura as the girl came out from behinds some downs tables and looking a little rough for the wear but she had a slight grin on her face. Her hand was clenched in a fist and she was hanging onto the collar of one of the guys they had been fighting. She managed to drag him out and she grinned in victory saying, "Well that was actually quite fun."

Angela's features were passive as she heard that and watched Tsura. She was taken back to a time when she looked the same way. She was once that young and took her victory for granted. She had no fears or nothing that told her that the world wasn't what she thought it was. She hadn't been broken by the strains. It was a look she had seen on countless strays she had picked up and trained over the centuries. It could be considered a universal look. She shifted her features though and hummed and grinned in reply, "When you can show someone that nothing is as it appears… it actually is quite fun."

Tsura grinned and she jerked on the collar and held him up, "And he's still awake."

As if to confirm that, the guy groaned. He opened his eyes and looked around. He shifted and saw Angela looking at him with her arms crossed over her chest and looking at him with a bland expression that bordered on scary. That wasn't what had him afraid though. He gasped at her. "You. You're…"

"What am I?" Angela stared down at the man that was starting to babble like an idiot. She had her fair share of those.

The guy struggled as he started to visibly panicked. He tried to get away but Tsura held him tight and firm to keep him from getting away. He ended up blurting, "It's the she devil of Europe!"

Angela sighed at that. That was an old nickname from the days just after her father's death when she was an angry girl and full of guilt. Looking back it could be equated to a child going through a temper tantrum but she did remember the destruction, fear and pain she caused to those that didn't deserve it. She studied the struggling man with an intense look. "She devil, huh?"

It was quick when she reached out with her hand and grasped the man's chin and squeezed. She gave enough pressure to subdue the man. She yanked and pulled him so he was staring her straight in the eyes. "Listen, I am not in a good mood. You and your friends were talking about a prisoner. Who are they talking about?"

The guy trembled as he looked at her. He gritted his teeth and replied, "I don't know…"

There was a yelp as Angela squeezed a little harder on the chin. She stared impassively at the man, well aware that she could cause serious injury and even death without drawing a weapon. She didn't even have to use her telekinetic ability to kill. The anticipation of slow and painful death was her specialty. The 'enhanced interrogation' methods of today were nothing compared to what she could do.

Looking at the man, she said, "I know you have a prisoner. You are with the fat one. Tell me: who is it they are talking to." She narrowed her eyes and let them flare for a brief moment and to show she wasn't playing games.

The guy screamed at the eye flare. "Ah… some guy."

"Who?"

The guy started whimpering and ended up not answering. Instead, he started begging her not to hurt him. Angela knew that it was going to be pointless unless the man calms down and she wasn't going to cross the line and forcibly remove it. Not if she could help it. She released him and straightened up and stared at the whimpering man impassively for a few moments before saying, "I haven't hurt you. So you'd be wise to tell me everything you know."

The whimpering man looked up at her. Angela could still see the fear in his yes. It was the same fear she had seen in countless others that had seen her after hearing about the things she had done before getting to them. Even after she had given that up, the memory stretched long and hard. It was rare to find a face that didn't show fear because of her. Sam was one such person.

The man realized she wasn't going to hurt him and stopped whimpering. He calmed down long enough to straighten up. He looked at the others that were unconscious on the ground, draped over tables and broken chairs and then back at her. Stammering slightly, he spoke, "Look… we were just hired to spread rumors."

"What rumors?" Tsura glared at the man and raised her fist.

Angela raised her hand to hold off Tsura. She looked at the man as she waved off Tsura. Her expression didn't soften but her voice did. "What rumors were you told to spread?"

"That… that we caught some guy and to make it sound like we were having fun with him."

"Describe him."

It wasn't a request but more of a command. The guy looked up at her and started babbling, "We were told to talk about his girly ass hair and how he is a picky eater. That's it and to imply the fun they were having with him." He paused and looked at Angela and noted how bland her expression was. It then occurred to him and he queried, "You know who it is, don't you?"

Angela said nothing but stared at the man and watched as the frightened look changed from the cowering to a malicious smirk. It didn't surprise her really and she had suspected things the moment they started shooting their mouths off. It was a gambit that she had used before when drawing out a particularly nasty demon and it was a classic tactic. Draw the enemy one way while you achieved your objective in the other direction. It had worked and she caught the demon and managed to get what she was after at the same time.

The guy looked at her and smirked shaking his head, "You know he said that you would be listening. That you would follow every lead there was to find him."

Angela stood looking down. She then slowly kneeled and stared at her quarry in the eye. "What do you want with me?"

The guy started laughing, "You think this is about you?"

Angela stared at the guy. What reason was there to torture her with this? Tsura looked at the situation with confusion and asked, "What do you mean?"

The guy looked at Tsura and replied, "Oh the boss has his sights on your friend here but he's already has her where he wants her." He looked at Angela and said, "He wants you to follow the trail but he wants to have a little fun with you."

"What is his game then?" Angela didn't like the implication that was going on here but she wasn't going to find out what was going on unless she talked to Lucifer's minions and figured out what was going on.

The guy smiled at her as he started to reply, "Why…" He shifted to look more like Lucifer. "Because this is hell and you're in my playground my little pretty."

Tsura gasped and took a step backwards. She hadn't been prepared for that and it spoked her quite a bit. She looked at Angela who was still kneeling and looking at the guy. She didn't look scared at all and it had her wondering who she really was. This was a ride she wasn't sure she wanted to stay on but now she was stuck on that.

Angela felt her throat convulse but she stared at the guy who was now wearing Lucifer. She stared at the devil and narrowed her eyes slightly. "Yes, I am," she said. There was no point in denying it so she was going to run with it. "I've known for a long time that I was going to hell. Ever since I left the last time, I knew I was going to be back here."

"Very astute of you." The guy wearing Lucifer grinned at her. "The one that got away is the most deserving of hell."

"Been that way since the beginning huh?"

The guy who was Lucifer stood up and looked at the pair of women as Angela stood up with him. He looked at the younger one and then at Angela. His brow raised slightly as he looked at her and then grinned as he glanced at Tsura. "Oh yes. What better way to curb the arrogance that you have pouring through your veins?"

"I'll admit that I was arrogant. The young usually are." Angela looked at Lucifer and blinked slowly. She didn't want to go into this but… "But this isn't about me. I want to know what your game is."

Lucifer chuckled, "Oh it is about you, my pretty. Always was." He leaned in and grinned, "And I do know about you and Sam. And you want to know something?"

Angela couldn't say anything about that. It was what she and Sam had a worry about the moment Lucifer got extremely violent, especially towards Sam. It was one of the things that had her reluctant to pursue a relationship with him. She was afraid of hurting him because of her. She shook her head slightly at Lucifer.

Lucifer merely grinned at her as she got a despondent look. He continued, "I understand why you chose him. He is particularly delightful." He chuckled as he watched her face process what was going on. "I mean he is a great bunk buddy. Tell me, when you go at it, is he the bitch?"

Something broke inside of Angela and with a roar she grabbed Lucifer and charged him into the wall. Her eyes flared as her teeth elongated. She was ready to rip him a new one. "What did you do to him?"

"See? All you care about is Sam. What does that say for the others that you supposedly protect?" Lucifer gave a smug look at Angela.

Angela glared at Lucifer. Her eyes were flaring. She couldn't lie at the fact that she would go off the deep end if something hurt Sam or Dean and even Bobby and anyone else that she grew to care for and loved. They were her family. Who wouldn't go off the deep end for family?

Protector.

Angie. Help!

Angela winced at the voices that seemed to flood her head. One was more like a myriad of voices. One though was familiar to her heart. She looked at Lucifer. She wanted to rip his head off and make him suffer. She knew what he had done and what he was doing to Sam. She had seen it; seen what humans did to each other what Lucifer was doing to Sam. It was the vilest thing she had witnessed and it had near happened to her once or twice.

Angie. Need… to help… Need to help Adam!

Lucifer watched as she shook her head, looking like things were going to come to a head. He grinned as she stepped back and held out a hand while touching her head. "Coming to a head huh? I mean you know you're in hell and this…? This is a product of you. Trying to convince yourself you have a hold on me but in truth… you don't."

Help Adam!

Angela heard the last voice. It was Sam's voice and it came in loud and clear. She looked up and her eyes flared as she reached out with her senses. The tick that she associated with Sam shifted and it was sending up a red flag. She looked out the door of the tavern. "Adam." She left the place leaving Tsura and Lucifer in there.

Tsura watched her leave and then turned to look at Lucifer. She narrowed her eyes at him and said, "You won't win."

"I always win."

Sam felt he cool air hit the injuries from the latest bout of one sided boxing match or beat down. He winced since the cool air stung. His arms hurt. His shoulders hurt. His head hurt. He winced and held back tears. And his rear hurt. He shivered and tried to curl up in a ball but he was being held up by meat hooks and chains and when he sagged, it tore at his flesh.

He cracked open an eye and looked around. It looked like he was quite alone. Well not exactly. He managed to see Michael and his back was towards him. He couldn't help but smirk slightly. It was more of pride for his girl.

It had been rough when Michael had been forced out of his little brother Adam. Sam had the double duty of a beat down. He was certain Michael had broken a few things. And if it had been normal circumstances it would probably have crushed him to a pulp. Then again this was hell. Probably Lucifer did something so he'd suffer but still be alive. That would just make things all nice and neat for the both of them. He winced silently as he smiled.

He was proud of her but it also had him worried. He had long given up being angry about her jumping in, following him to hell. He couldn't be angry with her because… No one had ever gone the lengths she had for him or Dean and that was despite what she was. He didn't see that though. He saw her as a person, a good and kind person that thought of and cared about everyone but herself. It was why he fell for her and hard despite the fact that he had been a bonehead about the whole thing.

That girl thinks the world of you.

His brother was right and Sam was still baffled that she chose him after everything he had done. Now she was here, willing to be tortured so he wouldn't be alone. He looked up watched as Michael continued to stare at something. Sam blinked to keep his vision clear and resisted from snorting. He knew what he was looking at.

Lucifer had this thing of making him watch when he was particularly having fun with Angela and making her run in circles. The worst was when Lucifer sent his goons after her and it was a five on one fight. Actually that was a lie. The worst was when Lucifer played with her by torturing him.

Lucifer called it a feedback. Sam was familiar with the concept but more with electronics. What Lucifer did was something that he didn't understand. He did get that it had to do with the fact that Lucifer liked to play with the scar on his shoulder; where Angela bit him their first night having sex. Everything the devil touched him there, a shiver would hit his spine along with needle sharp pain that was unlike anything he had ever felt before. The worst part of the whole thing was that every the devil did it, he had to watch Angela react at the same time.

Sam hated causing her pain. It was the one thing that had him so gun shy with her. He hurt her when there was no cause to and when she was trying to help and keep them out of trouble. He was forced to watch as she squirmed in her sleep, hissing from silent pain and the way she would jerk her body around trying to brush it away. He had to watch and endure.

Oh this is all because of you Sam. You see… you just had to go all the way with her. Get a little bit of that tail.

Sam felt his lip twist in anger at the memory of that. As much as he and Dean could joke about having sex, he drew the line when it came to Angela. And she could give it all she had too, saying innuendos to get him to blush because she knew she could and she liked seeing him blush. But to hear such a thing attributed to her… He didn't really react that much when Brady used similar words regarding Jessica. It felt so messed up to Sam since he did love Jessica but to get bent out of shape when Angela was referred to as tail or a whore or whatever and not with her…

This is punishment Sam. For both of you. We'll see who it affects more.

Sam swallowed as he tried to control his breathing. He didn't want to get Michael's attention though it never seemed to matter since they would beat him when he was unconscious though it wasn't as much fun as when he was awake. Besides he needed to figure out what was going on at the moment before the next round started. He inwardly winced when he realized whose 'turn' it was next.

Michael he could handle. That dick seemed intent on the physical. The usual human methods like bamboo cane and water torture… enhanced interrogation as it was called… was the warm up. Then Michael would get creative with it and bring in the weapons like the knives and other things. Sam was certain he had his hands broken to smithereens several times over. The meat hooks he remembered since it was a favorite of Lucifer's. There was one time that Michael drove his fingertips under his ribcage. That was a bitch.

The point was the physical became more of an exercise of learning to let it wash all over him. At one point, his senses were numbed during the sessions. It didn't mean that he didn't feel them afterwards. His current soreness was a testament to that. Just those times it slipped into oblivion. He was awake for it but he didn't give them much pleasure at it. Those times did allow him to think about what she went through.

It never failed to make him angry when he remembered how he found her, hanging sort of like he was now, her body looking so broken. He had seen the stab wounds and the burns and the nasty look of her broken leg. He had to admit that while he was looking for her, he was afraid that something worse than that would happen. He was not an idiot since she was a beautiful woman and those guys… He breathed to calm himself down because it never happened. They seemed content in beating it out of her but that made Sam realize all the more how special she was to him and not just because she was a fellow hunter who stuck with them the last few years.

I am going to beat every ounce out you Sam. You will never be forgiven what you have done.

Sam had no regrets when it came to those moments with Angela. He loved being with her and the times they had, he could almost forget the crappy life that was before him as a hunter. She made things better. It wasn't the grandiose things but the little things that made the difference. And not just for him but for his brother, Bobby… and anyone else. He didn't regret knowing her. She was the best thing in his life.

"Stop with the games and get Adam."

That woke up Sam a bit. He shifted slightly but not enough to make any noise. They would have mistaken it for his unconscious shifting. He turned to see what Michael was looking at. He blinked and tried to control his anxiety as he saw Angela standing toe to toe with Lucifer and they were having a discussion. He couldn't quite hear the words but he was certain Lucifer was tormenting her by telling her what he was doing to him.

"Just get the other Winchester."

Peering at the whole thing, Sam couldn't see Adam there. That meant… It started to click what the plan was. It seemed that they were going to distract her while they snatched Adam and Lucifer was going to take the opportunity to deliver a couple of low blows. That sparked Sam into action or at least into the mindset of trying to do something.

He knew that he couldn't break free. They had him strung up nine ways from Sunday and he was completely battered. There was no way that he would be able to break free and if he did, he wouldn't last a few minutes since he had no clue if Lucifer really masterminded everything to what they were seeing. Hell the devil tried to be her and while it failed, it had shaken Sam quite a bit that he wasn't even confident that he was talking to her in his dreams. So he shut her out. He hated it but he didn't want to do anything that would make things worse. However, this was an emergency.

It was something that always seemed to spark up like a fluke but Sam took the win when he could. He couldn't explain it but if this feedback thing Lucifer was talking about worked with pain, then the same principle could be applied to thoughts. After all she had done it way before all this. He had to try if only so that his brother wouldn't have to undergo the same torment.

Focusing, or trying to, he simplified the message to get her attention, Angie. Help!

It was probably the worst thing to do since she would take it as worst case scenario but it had her attention. Wincing from the sudden bout of pain, Sam shifted. He ended up shifting enough to make the chains rattle and it caught Michael's attention. He was focused on getting Angela's attention. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and focused on talking to her as he tried again, Angie. Help Adam! His breath came out in a slight gasp.

"What are you doing?"

Sam looked up and saw Michael had noticed him and was making his way towards him. He rapidly shot his thoughts off again and again, telling Angela to help Adam. He gasped when Michael grabbed him just under his chin and around his neck. He felt his air starting to be cut off as Michael squeezed. The archangel demanded, "What are you doing?"

Sam gasped for air and shut his eyes, trying to breathe. He wasn't going to give anything away. He looked down and found the archangel glaring at him but also searching for him. He gasped out, "N-nothing."

It was the wrong thing to saw. Sam saw Michael's features contort into a snarl and he found himself being hurled through the air. He grunted as the meat hooks tore his flesh from his body. When he landed, he cried out in pain. His whole body was screaming out in pain but at least his limbs were free and it allowed him to push himself to his feet and it was a good thing too since the archangel was advancing towards him.

"What did you do?"

Sam stood up, saying nothing. Even if he did say something, he was going to get a beating. There was no way he would give her up. She was fighting for him. He would fight for her. He stood his ground, nothing saying anything. It angered the archangel into charging and he brought up his hands to defend himself. He may be here for torture but he wasn't going to go down willingly.

A/N: Looks like Luci is distracting Angie to get Adam and Sam is getting more torture. More next time on The Winding Road...